GM Slowing Impala Production, Laying Off Third Shift
The Chevy Impala showed a 1.8 percent gain in sales in March. At the first of April, GM only had a 21-day supply on the lots. The factory in Oshawa, Ontario has been running three shifts with Saturday overtime for several months. So why are they suddenly cutting back on production? An industry source (yes, we have them too) tells us that GM's canceled Saturday overtime and laid off the third shift until further notice. Rumor has it the American Axle strike is affecting the plant; although it wasn't previously identified as one threatened by a parts shortage. The more likely scenario: Chevy's filled all its Impala fleet orders. With overall sales down 11.1 percent for the year, and the distinct possibility that Malibu sales are (as predicted) cannibalizing the Impala, GM's simply slowing Impala production to meet retail demand (or lack thereof). The sales numbers over the next few months will throw some light on the truth of the matter. We'll keep you posted.
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I've spent a good amount of time in modern Impalas and in the Five Hundred/Taurus. The Impala rear seats are especially uncomfortable on long trips. Not only is the headroom terrible, but the seat cushion is too short and too thin. The New Taurus is a much, much better vehicle than the Impala IMO, and Ford actually puts a modern DOHC transmission and 6-speed engine in the Taurus while GM is still fobbing off it's now ancient pushrod engines and 4-speed transmission. Ford also give much better packaging, safety, ride, handling, etc. What stumps me is why anyone is buying Impalas. The few retail Impala customers probably literally don't know any better.
Well the Taurus is based on the older Volvo S80 (about 8 years old) so that older Volvo platform is still lightyears better than Chevy's 20 year old platforms and 30 year old drivetrains. Reason why anyone buys a new "retail" Impala is the deal. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who bought an Impala for its merit. In fact most of the Big 2.8 hardly sell cars or trucks anymore - they sell deals on the cars and that is the majority of their customers - they want to best deal but understand you don't get the best product.